Carlos Miller: Not guilty! As one of Miami's most fervent free speech activists, Miller was facing a criminal misdemeanor of resisting arrest stemming from a tussle with one particular member of Miami-Dade Police Department's finest on January 31.
While filming county and City of Miami cops clearing out Occupy Miami protesters from the Stephen P. Clark Center in downtown, Miami-Dade Police Maj. Nancy Perez shouted for his arrest because Miller allegedly ignored her commands he clear the area.
Yesterday, a Miami-Dade jury quickly acquitted Miller after one day of testimony. "When the jurors went in to deliberate, I got nervous," the photographer-blogger says. "I was already thinking about an appeal."
See also:
- Miami-Dade Police Watched Photog's Facebook Before Arresting Him at Occupy Miami Bust
- Carlos Miller Arrested For Photographing Police Crack-Down on Occupy Miami
Perez, who is charge of the county police department's media relations unit, did not respond to an email requesting comment.
Miller came to court with a proverbial ace up his sleeve in Glenn Garvin, ace columnist for the Miami Herald!
Dun-dah-dun-dah!
Garvin was also covering the Occupy Miami eviction on Jan. 31. The Herald scribe explained that he never heard Perez direct or guide any journalists covering the scene to clear the area, Miller claims. "When he saw me get arrested he told the jury he was worried he'd get arrested too," Miller says. "He was concerned about getting arrested to so he walked up to her. She told him he was fine."
Miller, who posted video of his trial on his blog, asserts that the jury foreman informed his lawyer that Garvin's testimony was key to his acquittal.
Miller adds that he doesn't know Garvin personally.
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